Nimbus Doppel Bock

On tap at Nimbus - Pours a clear dark amber color with a thin off white head. Has a light caramel malt and very light ester aroma. Flavor is mostly sweet caramel malt with a touch of dark esters. Smooth but sweet. Medium body. Worth a try.

Sits in the pint glass a pretty clear, dark, ruddy, burnt amber color, that shows some deep red highlights when held up to the light. It is topped by a wispy, thin, tan colored head that quickly disappears. Sweet malty aromatics are dominant here with some notes of caramel, and some malty fruit derived notes that remind me of raisins.

The beer is quite sweet, it certainly hits the fullness / mouthfeel of a Doppel bock correctly. There is a lightly spicy finish that is contributed by both the carbonation and a subtle hop character. A light bitterness is here as well, not quite enough to balance the malt, but that is what one wants in this type of beer anyways. The sweetness seems a bit one-dimensional. I am not sure why, as this is certainly malty, but it does not seem to have the malt depth of a great Doppel Bock.

The sweetness actually projects a berry-like flavor in this beer. This beer is certainly hearty enough for this unusually chilly Tucson afternoon though. The sweetness and malt really help it to cut through the food that I have; it actually pairs quite well with the Reuben and fries I am currently eating. The food actually brings out the malty complexity I was searching for earlier; maillard by-products, caramelized notes, toffee and even a touch of roast character are all noticeable as I eat my sandwich.